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Although it was advertised to still screen in
Monday's papers, this probably didn't occur, as
by Tuesday no regular advertisement appeared.

The theatre was soon converted into three
shops, with the gallery floor extended to make
a complete second floor for offices or residence.
The rear of the building containing the screen
was demolished and the building reduced in
size, with the whole building exterior clad in
brick in c. 1960. Even today, the façade
remains relatively intact, though most local
residents have no knowledge of the building at
99-101 Station Street ever being a former
picture theatre. It now houses a long established
butcher and a newsagency in the ground floor
shops.
NB: The McLeish Theatre chain had
relinquished its lease of Clifton Hill in 1957,
closed the Regal Hartwell in April 1959, the
Austral in Collingwood in July 1959, as well
as the Newmarket in October 1959, then the
Northcote Theatre in 1960. The Hoyts
Former Fairfield Theatre building in 2010 (Image by Royce Harris)
Ivanhoe Theatre was one of the last theatres
in the vicinity of Fairfield with reduced
Geoff also describes other occasional Fairfield's first CinemaScope feature was screenings from 1961, before its closure in
malfunctions in screenings as well as listing the The Robe, two weeks after the Northcote and 1968. The Rivoli in Camberwell came under
films screening in 1947, (many being revival Newmarket were converted to CinemaScope, the Village Theatres banner in 1983.
films of the late '30s and early '40s) as well as but at the same time with the same feature as
when the theatre had a “full hous”. Another the Regal Hartwell and, as so happened, the Only the Westgarth Theatre managed to
projectionist for many years was Bill Curran. Hoyts Ivanhoe Theatre on 23 December 1954. struggle through the lean years to survive today
Another name associated with technical matters as a multi-screen cinema for local residents.
for the theatre is Arthur Pyers who, it is said, In 1953, management had been admonished for There is also the larger multiplex at the
converted the Simplex projectors with front not having a fireman present at an evening Northland Shopping Centre at Preston. �
shutters to rear shutters in c. 1954 for session - a regulation that also included
CinemaScope. Another local resident and Saturday matinees and public holidays, when Postscript: The former theatre building is now
CATHS member, the late John Brown, was also the seating capacity of the theatre was over for sale for the first time in over 60 years.
a relief projectionist in its latter years. 1000 patrons. The theatre had seats for 1039
since c. 1945 and, prior to that, could hold 1056
There is documentation in the Health patrons. Credits:
Department files that, in June 1949, Robert
McLeish had proposed to purchase property on Solution? In June 1956, the authorities were (1) Heidelberg News and Greensborough and
the south side of the present theatre, with plans advised that 41 seats were to be removed from Diamond Creek Chronicle, 25 April 1914, p2
drawn up by theatre specialist architectural firm the front rows of the stalls. All 23 seats were
Cowper, Murphy & Associates for a major removed from the front row, seven seats from (2) The Herald (Melb), 5 March 1914 p4
remodelling of the Fairfield Theatre, utilising the second row on each wall side, with two seats
the shop next door. These plans had also been on the wall sides of the third row. Capacity was (3) PRoV file: VPRS 7882/P0001/Unit 248/Item 1245
drafted by the Hoyts Engineering Department now under 1000 seats.
(and stamped for approval), showing the (4) Heidelberg News and Greensborough and
Diamond Creek Chronicle, 2 June 1918, p2
relationship that Robert McLeish Snr (and Jnr) In 1957, McLeish Theatres Ltd advised that
now had with the much larger cinema chain. they were going to sell the Fairfield Theatre. (5) Film Weekly, 11 Nov 1948, p21 & 15 Oct 1953, p3
Certainly it was a dilapidated venue through its
Then, on 6 October 1953, Robert “Bob” lack of any significant refurbishment in the (6) Table Talk, 16 & 23 January 1930, p24
McLeish died suddenly at home at the age recent years, other than its cinematic
of 70. Fortunately, his son, Robert Jnr, who had equipment. The company had also ceased their (7) The Argus (Melb), 16 January 1933, p6
also been involved in the company for many lease of the Clifton Hill Theatre, screening
years, was able to implement a smooth their last film there on 30 October 1957. (8) The Age (Melb), 29 February 1932, p8
transition as the new head of the company. Apparently in its last years McLeish Theatres
had two managers managing both theatres (9) The Showman, February 1958.
However, the plan for either demolishing or rather than one for each. (9)
remodelling the Fairfield Theatre did not The Herald (Melb) - various issues Trove
occur, and was communicated to the relevant There were certainly other factors. The more
authority as being due to financial car-centric society meant the new style of film Peter Ricketts's family oral history recordings
circumstances. One could speculate whether the presentation of the Hoyts Skyline Drive-In
company had foreseen the imminent impact of theatre in nearby Preston was popular, the more CinemaRecord Issue Nos. 44, 45, 47, 51
the introduction of television or the economic comfortable and newer cinemas elsewhere, as
Kino Issue No. 95
rationality of having so many other theatres in well as the prospect of television becoming
proximity of the suburb. The Northcote even more affordable, meant declining Unpublished booklet: Going to the Movies in 1947
Theatre, the Westgarth Theatre, Hoyts patronage was the prospect of the future.
G. C. Edwards (1999)
Ivanhoe Theatre and the Clifton Hill Theatre
were all within 4 km of the “Tin Shed”, with The theatre was put up for auction on Thanks to Peter Ricketts, Ian Smith and Peter
theatres in Kew and Thornbury not much 15 November 1957. The last film screened was Wolfenden for assistance in research.
further away. The Shiralee on Saturday, 30 November.

38 CINEMARECORD # 99